[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 156 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 156

 Expressing concern for the continued deterioration of human rights in 
     Afghanistan and emphasizing the need for a peaceful political 
                      settlement in that country.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 23, 1997

    Mrs. Maloney of New York (for herself, Mr. Rohrabacher, Ms. Ros-
   Lehtinen, Mr. Markey, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Ms. Velazquez, Mrs. 
  Kelly, Ms. Eshoo, Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mr. Lantos, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. 
  Watts of Oklahoma, Mr. Gejdenson,, Mr. Blagojevich, Mr. Kennedy of 
 Massachusetts, Mr. McNulty, Mrs. Thurman, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, 
Mr. Olver, Mr. Capps, Mr. Underwood, Mr. Solomon, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Farr 
 of California, Mrs. Morella, and Mr. Berman) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing concern for the continued deterioration of human rights in 
     Afghanistan and emphasizing the need for a peaceful political 
                      settlement in that country.

Whereas Congress recognizes that the legacy of civil conflict in Afghanistan 
        during the last 17 years has had a devastating effect on the civilian 
        population in that country, killing 2,000,000 people and displacing more 
        than 7,000,000, and has had a particularly negative impact on the rights 
        and security of women and girls;
Whereas the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Practices for 1996 
        states: ``Serious human rights violations continue to occur [. . .] 
        political killings, torture, rape, arbitrary detention, looting, 
        abductions and kidnappings for ransom were committed by armed units, 
        local commanders and rogue individuals.'';
Whereas the Afghan militias are responsible for numerous abhorrent human rights 
        abuses, including the rape, sexual abuse, torture, abduction, and 
        persecution of women and girls;
Whereas drug proliferation has increased under Taliban rule;
Whereas Congress is disturbed by the upsurge of reported human rights abuses in 
        Taliban-controlled territory, including extreme restrictions placed on 
        women and girls;
Whereas the Taliban have provided safe haven to suspected terrorists and may be 
        allowing terrorist training camps to operate in territory under its 
        control;
Whereas Afghanistan is a sovereign nation and must work to solve its internal 
        disputes; and
Whereas Afghanistan and the United States recognize international human rights 
        conventions, such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which 
        espouse respect for basic human rights of all individuals without regard 
        to race, religion, ethnicity, or gender: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY.

    The Congress hereby--
            (1) deplores the violations of international humanitarian 
        law by the Taliban coalition in Afghanistan and raises concern 
        over the reported cases of stoning, public executions, and 
        street beatings;
            (2) condemns the Taliban's targeted discrimination against 
        women and girls and expresses deep concern regarding the 
        prohibition of employment and education for women and girls;
            (3) urges the Taliban and all other parties in Afghanistan 
        to cease providing safe haven to suspected terrorists or 
        permitting Afghan territory to be used for terrorist training; 
        and
            (4) takes note of the continued armed conflict in 
        Afghanistan, affirms the need for peace negotiations and 
        expresses hope that the Afghan parties will agree to a cease-
        fire throughout the country.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the President--
            (1) should continue to monitor the human rights situation 
        in Afghanistan and should call for adherence by all factions in 
        Afghanistan to international humanitarian law;
            (2) should call for an end to the systematic discrimination 
        and harassment of women and girls in Afghanistan;
            (3) should encourage efforts to procure a durable peace in 
        Afghanistan and should support the United Nations Special 
        Mission to Afghanistan led by Lakhdar Brahimi to assist in 
        brokering a peaceful resolution to years of conflict;
            (4) should call upon the Government of Pakistan to use its 
        influence with the Taliban to cease human rights violations, 
        end provision of safe haven to terrorists and terrorist 
        training camps, and reverse discriminatory policies against 
        women and girls;
            (5) should call upon all nations to cease providing 
        financial assistance, arms, and other kinds of support to the 
        militaries or political organizations of any factions that 
        abuse human rights in Afghanistan; and
            (6) should support efforts by non-Taliban organizations in 
        Afghanistan and moderate Taliban organizations and individuals 
        to establish a cessation of hostilities and a transitional 
        multiparty government leading to freedom, respect for human 
        rights, and free and fair elections.
                                 <all>